Mumbai Live: Death toll rises to 4 in Dockyard building collapse

According to a PTI report, four persons were today killed and 15 others got injured when a five-storeyed Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) residential building collapsed in Mumbai's Mazgaon area.

"As per latest information, the death toll in the collapse has gone up to four," civic sources told PTI, adding that many more people are believed to be trapped in the debris, even as rescue operations are underway. The injured have been sent to the JJ Hospital, sources said.

As a steady stream of politicians visited the site of the building collapse in South Mumbai, Leader of the Opposition in the Maharashtra Legislative Council Vinod Tawde of the Bharatiya Janata Party said the issue of a policy on dilapidated buildings has been discussed in the legislature multiple times. "But there has been no speedy decision by the government on framing this policy," he said.

Other politicians called for action against civic officials for neglect.

1.15 pm: CM Prithviraj Chavan assures all assistance from government to rescue teams

Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan on Friday convened an urgent meeting of senior officials of the state government and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation to take stock of rescue efforts following the collapse of the four-storey building at Dockyard Road.

The primary focus of the operations should be to expeditiously remove people trapped in the rubble, Chavan said.

Meanwhile, 65 men from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and the Mumbai Fire Brigade are at the spot. Twelve fire brigade vehicles, four ambulances and two rescue vans are stationed at the site.

Volunteers from the Mazgaon Dockyard Ltd, the Civil Defence Force and also some university students with training in disaster response are participating in the rescue efforts.

The building is a 30 or 32-year old building, constructed around the year 1980. It had recently been declared dangerous. The building is owned by the Markets department of the BMC.

1.00 pm: Politicos engage in blame game

As politicians visited the site of the building collapse, the blame game on who is responsible began. South Mumbai Member of Parliament was maong those who visited. He then tweeted: Visited the site of the building collapse in Mumbai. Rescue work underway to free those trapped. Yet another case of BMC's admin negligence

The single dead body retrieved from the debris of the collapsed building at Dockyard Road has been identified as Leela Tawde, age 60 years. Even as rescue operations continue, the JJ Hospital has prepared a ward in readiness for more survivors with injuries. There were 30 families residing in the building and locals at the site say several more people could be trapped under the debris.

11.30 am: Most survivors in hospital out of danger

The Sir JJ Group of Hospitals in Byculla has said there are seven injured survivors from the building collapse who have been admitted. Their names are as follows:

1. Anish Kadam, age 10 years, has suffered blunt trauma injuries

2 Devendra Rathod age 47 years, injured a finger

3. Deeptesh Kadam, age 16 years, has abrasions on the left knee and injuries to his right leg

4. Habib Shaikh, age 22 years, complained of breathlessness

5. Taquir Shaikh, age 22 years, complained of breathlessness

6. Harun Rasib Shaikh, age 24 years, complained of breathlessness

7. Ajay Chendvankar, age 40 years, suffered a fracture

11.20 am: BMC had leased out ground floor of building to a private party

Sources at the site of the building collapse near Dockyard Road station in South Mumbai said the ground floor of the property had been leased to a decorator firm. Officials said there would be an investigation into whether any illegal alterations had been carried out in the ground floor property, including damage to any pillars during repairs.

10.30 am: Death toll is one.

One dead body was retrieved from the rubble minutes back. It is the first known fatality.

10.20 am: Police Commissioner visits site of collapse

Commissioner of Police Satyapal Singh visited the site of the building collapse where rescue operations are on in full swing. Two of the injured have suffered serious injuries including head injuries and are critical, said sources.

Meanwhile, local elected representatives said Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan is expected to visit the site of the collapse later today.

9.43 am: Thirty families live in the building, now homeless

The ill-fated five-storey building that collapsed in South Mumbai on Friday morning had at least 30 families residing in it. Following complaints regarding the condition of the building, residents were served their first eviction notice on Thursday evening around 4 pm. A few families reportedly moved out after receiving the notice warning them to leave the structure.

9.15 am: Industrial crane joins rescue work

A huge industrial crane was pressed into service at the site of the building collapse in South Mumbai. The crane is being used to attempt to lift a cement water tank that has remained intact despite the collapse, reports Firstpost's Parag Shinde. After several failed attempts to use a rope-pulley system to drag the tank off the top of the debris, workers decided to call for the crane.

An industrial crane joins rescue efforts. Parag Shinde/ Firstpost

9.00 am: rescue operations continue. One man crawled out of the debris and walked to safety, assisted by rescue personnel. He was taken to hospital in an ambulance, though he appeared unharmed. Rescue operations are still going on. At least eight survivors have been taken to JJ Hospital until now.

8.00 am: Police say at least 40 people could be trapped

Parag Shinde/Firstpost

Local police are saying that at least 40 people could be trapped in the rubble of a building that has collapsed on Dockyard road. Around 4-5 people who have received injuries have been shifted to Mumbai's JJ hospital.

The focus of rescue teams is to pull out as many people alive as possible.

7.30 am: Five storey building collapses, many feared trapped

A five storey building has collapsed in Mumbai Dockyard road, and many people are feared trapped inside. No casualties have been reported yet, however.

Around eight rescue teams are already at the spot, and more rescue personnel are on the way, television channels reported.

Not much information is available at this point, but it is confirmed that the building belongs to the BMC and was a residential complex.